As the 1940s began, calls to expand Pownal State School continued. While the patient population would peak in the 1930s at around 1,500, Superintendent Kupelian would continue to advocate for expanding the numbers of residents – asking the public to support funding for up to 9,000 total patients.
![Newspaper clipping from the Lewiston Evening Journal, April 2, 1943 with the headline: "Favor Pownal State School Construction"](http://shadowsofpineland.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/1943-Apr-2-Lewiston-Evening-Journal.png)
![Newspaper clipping from the Lewiston Daily Sun, June 20, 1940 with the headline: "Facilities Needed at Pownal State School"](http://shadowsofpineland.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/1940-Jun-20-Lewiston-Daily-Sun.png)
![Newspaper clipping from the Lewiston Evening Journal, June 19, 1940 with the headline: "Need Accommodations For Mentally Defective"](http://shadowsofpineland.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/1940-Jun-19-Lewiston-Evening-Journal.png)
![Newspaper clipping from the Lewiston Daily Sun, January 26, 1944 with the headline: "Maine Department of Institutional Service Has Many Urgent Needs – Most Institutions Are Overcrowded – Many Have Long Waiting Lists – Post-War Plans are Ready For Consideration of Legislature"](http://shadowsofpineland.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/1944-Jan-26-Lewiston-Daily-Sun-1024x142.png)
![Newspaper clipping from the Lewiston Evening Journal, April 19, 1944 with the headline: "Authorizes Fund Transfer to Pownal State School"](http://shadowsofpineland.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/1944-Apr-19-Lewiston-Evening-Journal.png)
![Newspaper clipping from the Lewiston Daily Sun, September 12, 1944 with the headline: "Need Institutions – Postwar Planning Calls For Expansion, improvement of State Facilities"](http://shadowsofpineland.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/1944-Sep-12-Lewiston-Daily-Sun.png)
Expansion of Pownal State School was supported not just by the Superintendents of the School, but found a great cheerleader in the State Commissioner of Institutional Service, Harrison Greenleaf. He wrote in an op-ed in the Lewiston Evening Journal, “This department seeks in its new construction at the Pownal State School…to achieve simplicity of design, a maximum of utility, and a maximum of economy of maintenance…with the use of sound construction policies devoid of unnecessary ornament and unnecessary space…so designed that it can afford adequate housing care for 200 patients. Because of the particular need for housing facilities for the low grade type of inmate the dormitories have been designed with this in mind.” (January 17, 1945)
![Newspaper clipping from the Lewiston Evening Journal, January 17th, 1945 with the headline: "State Institutions Have Many Needs and a Program Already Developed to Meet These Needs"](http://shadowsofpineland.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/1945-Jan-17-Lewiston-Evening-Journal.png)
By spring of 1945, $1.5 million had been appropriated by the Legislature to expand the state’s institution, including three new buildings at the Pownal State School.
![Newspaper clipping from the Lewiston Evening Journal, June 19, 1945 with the headline: "State Institutional Expansion Underway, Greenleaf Tells Lions"](http://shadowsofpineland.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/1945-June-19-Lewiston-Evening-Journal.png)
Commissioner Greenleaf would continue to ask for increases in funding, not only to expand the school itself, but for more staff – staff shortages were an increasing problem at the School. Greenleaf also asked the Legislature to allow the institution to move to a 3 day, 48 hour per week schedule for staff. “Help Wanted” ads looking for more staff at Pownal proliferated in newspapers across the state.
![Newspaper clipping from the Lewiston Daily Sun, October 16, 1946 with the headline: "Greenleaf Asks Shorter Week in 3 Institutions – Recommends 48 Hours to Improve Service; His Budget is Higher – Gardner Asks More"](http://shadowsofpineland.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/1946-Oct-16-Lewiston-Daily-Sun.png)
![Advertisement from the Lewiston Daily Sun, November 16, 1946 – Help Wanted for the following positions at Pownal State School: Graduate Nurses, Stenographer, Attendants, Male and Female](http://shadowsofpineland.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/1946-Nov-16-Lewiston-Daily-Sun.png)
The Legislature approved another $400,000 for more construction at Pownal State School in 1947.
![Newspaper clipping from the Lewiston Daily Sun, May 14, 1947 – Headline: $400,000 For Pownal.](http://shadowsofpineland.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/1947-May-14-Lewiston-Daily-Sun.png)
![Text of 1947 Public Law Chapter 152 - Pownal Funding Resolve](http://shadowsofpineland.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/1947-Public-Law-Ch-152-Pownal-Funding-Resolve.png)